Surfshark VPN Review 2025: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam?

Review Summary

Surfshark offers a very attractive beginning price compared to other VPN providers, is compatible with a wide range of devices, and is packed with useful extras.

Over 3,200 servers are spread out across 160 data centers in 95 countries on this network.

The Smart DNS solution can unblock websites on gaming consoles, smart TVs, and far more, and there are applications for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux, as well as Chrome, Firefox, and now Edge.

Set up and run Surfshark on as numerous devices as you wish without worrying about annoying simultaneous connection’ limitations.

Strong AES-256-GCM encryption, compatibility for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, a no-logs approach, and a kill switch in case your VPN connection stops are just some of the technical highlights of this service.

Here is a detailed Surfshark VPN review, including everything you need to know about this VPN.

Surfshark VPN Review 2025: In-depth

Let’s get into action. Get Surfshark by navigating their website and clicking “Get Surfshark.” Next, select a plan of action.

It’s more cost-effective to sign up for the two-year plan if you anticipate using Surfshark for longer than five or six months rather than paying the same amount each month.

Please keep in mind that you have 30 days to request a refund.

For that reason, we advise you to put Surfshark through its paces and see if it can do everything you could want it to.

There is a paid version of Surfshark that includes anti-virus protection and account monitoring. In the end, it depends upon you if you want to join.

After registering with Surfshark.com, you can return to the main page and enter your login information.

After doing so, you will be brought to your account’s main screen. As Windows is where we’ll be running Surfshark, we’ll select that option from the download menu.

Click Open File once the download is complete. Let Windows know you did that on purpose.

Starting Surfshark

The next step is to enter the program using the email address and password combination you created when you first registered.

You may tweak a few settings before you even reach the main menu.

The most important choice you need to make right now is whether or not you need Surfshark to automatically proxy all of your Internet traffic upon startup.

Turn this on if you want to use a VPN for all of your future connections.

Using Surfshark

Finally, you are now prepared to use Surfshark. Fastest Server should be your default option if you’re not attempting to conceal your true location or change your IP address.

Doing so will initiate communication.

As for how Surfshark functions generally, that’s it; simply selecting the Disconnect button will terminate the current session.

How Secure Is Surfshark?

Encryption Methods

Using antiquated encryption techniques is like putting a rusty lock on a costly safe; it provides some security, but we’d prefer something more modern.

Upon further investigation, we discovered that Surfshark, like most VPNs in 2022, encrypts user data using the industry-standard AES 256-bit.

And because Surfshark routes encrypted communication through numerous servers, our online activities are even more concealed.

Because of this, we know that Surfshark safeguards our online activity, unlike even the greatest VPNs available.

Logging Policy

Still, we felt that this fell short of our expectations. Instead, we were curious about the specifics of Surfshark’s data retention practices, so we reviewed their complete privacy statement. What did we discover?

Your email accounts, encrypted credentials, payment details, order history, diagnostic tests (which we declined), and other information about your use of the Surfshark website, such as the pages you view and how long you spend on each, will all be retained in your Surfshark accounts.

Your Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and device information were stored only on the VPN service’s website and not in the software itself.

Surfshark, like most websites, gathered data via cookies, but unlike most, you might not be able to choose not to have your information used in this way.

What Surfshark Doesn’t Record

Your IP addresses, transaction data, browsing data, VPN connection times, VPN bandwidth usage, network traffic, etc., will all be discarded by Surfshark.

When tried to compare to other VPNs, Surfshark is the most privacy-friendly option because it stores only the information it needs to function.

Speed During Daily Use

We anticipated fantastic standard internet speeds based on the test results, particularly the speeds we achieved on the US server.

The VPN performed admirably under normal conditions.

We put Surfshark VPN through its paces by using it to browse the web, watch Netflix, install torrents, and play video games, and it performed flawlessly in every scenario.

We experienced no slowdown in performance while using Surfshark. It was easy to open websites, send and receive emails, get files from the internet, and browse social media.

Both Netflix and YouTube videos played without a hitch for us.

In fact, unlike some other VPN services, Netflix looked to load more quickly. Surfshark VPN is, without a doubt, the best option for online video streaming.

Torrent downloads also worked without a hitch. Despite their size, the data we downloaded took almost any time.

Furthermore, Surfshark knew we were employing a torrent client and consequently switched us from their standard VPN server to their P2P Server. This added polish and unquestionably sped things up.

Furthermore, we didn’t encounter any lag while playing games. We had no downtime when establishing connections to both domestic and international servers.

We put the VPN through its paces by playing several graphically intense first-person shooter games. The latency decreased, but only a little. There was no noticeable impact on gameplay.

Features of Surfshark

Now you know everything about how SUrfshark works and how safe it is. Further in the Surfshark VPN review, here are some prominent features you will get from this VPN.

Military-Grade Encryption

AES-256 encryption, the benchmark in the marketplace, is used to ensure user privacy and security.

It employs the same encryption level used by countries and the armed services to safeguard vital information.

RAM-Only Servers

When you disconnect from Surfshark’s VPN service, all your data is immediately and permanently deleted from their diskless server network.

It is done to seal off any possible entry points for hackers.

Data breaches are theoretically possible before a manual wipe is performed, as with many other leading VPNs that utilize hard drives.

As a result, you can rest assured that no personal information will be leaked, giving you even more privacy. Surfshark’s added layer of protection is a great feature.

Four Security Protocols To Protect Your Online Activity

Even though IKEv2 and OpenVPN are more often used, Surfshark has clients for all major platforms using the WireGuard protocol.

People residing or utilizing the service in regions with repressive internet censorship will find the Shadowsocks protocol invaluable.

MultiHop Servers For Dual VPN Connections

Using MultiHop, your information is encrypted twice and sent to different servers.

This additional safeguard makes it much more difficult for cybercriminals to pinpoint your precise position. Secured as MultiHop servers are, they may slow down your network.

Whitelist/Split Tunneling

Split tunneling is a convenient option that gives you control over which network traffic goes via your VPN and which does not.

The Surfshark app includes a similar function known as Whitelist. Despite just being compatible with Windows and Android, we were delighted with how it performed.

Kill Switch

In the event of an internet disaster, Surfshark’s official apps have a button to disconnect from the web immediately.

The kill switch will prevent further network access until the VPN connection is restored. You can change this setting in Surfshark’s preferences menu.

Camouflage Mode

Camouflage Mode, popularly called Obfuscation or obfuscated servers, is one of many security options in Surfshark.

If way, nobody will be able to tell that you’re using a VPN because your data would look like it’s coming from the network normally.

When using OpenVPN’s UDP or TCP connections, the feature activates mechanically.

This capability comes in handy when the internet is blocked at your institution of higher learning or place of employment or when your nation limits VPN ports.

It bypasses VPN bans and gives you unfettered internet access when you need it.

Trust DNS

You may easily alter your DNS server with the free app TrustDNS. There are currently over a hundred public DNS servers to pick from.

It’s helpful if you bypass DNS-level blocks (which can occur in prohibited regions such as China) or if you just want to mask your activities from your ISP.

While it may be convenient, it does not provide the same level of security as a virtual private network (VPN), as your internet traffic is not encrypted and your real IP address remains exposed.

No streaming sites were accessible after I tested it. This program (or adjusting your network preferences) makes connecting to public DNS servers simple.

However, public spaces can often log your activity or expose you to malware.

If you utilize one of Surfshark’s VPN servers, you’ll immediately be connected to the company’s secure DNS servers, ensuring your anonymity and security.

You can only use Trust DNS on iOS and Android phones, which must be downloaded independently.

CleanWeb

With Surfshark’s CleanWeb, you won’t have to worry about annoying adverts or being followed across the web by shady data miners.

It is not activated automatically. You may do it in the preferences menu.

If activated, it will prevent access from banned IP addresses. Pop-ups from well-known ad hosts should no longer appear as a result.

The same holds true for malware-spreading or data-collecting hosts.

GPS Spoofing

If you own an Android device and want to hide your true IP address and geographical location, you can do so with Surfshark.

No further software is required. Location data is one of the most gathered sources of evidence about any client because most apps installed on a smartphone have accessibility to it.

Spoofing your location means you can link your VPN IP address with precise GPS coordinates to protect your anonymity when using a VPN.

You may use this to your benefit when scrolling through potential romantic partners on Tinder or hunting for Pokemon on Pokemon Go.

Surfshark Speed

There is no doubt that Surfshark is one of the quickest VPNs available. None of our tests were interrupted by connectivity issues, and download speeds were satisfactory.

The connection times on Surfshark have significantly increased since our last assessment. WireGuard reached speeds of up to 792 Mbps in the US and 700 Mbps in the UK.

In doing an honest Surfshark VPN review, we must also highlight its drawbacks. Using OpenVPN, things weren’t quite so bright.

Though sufficient for most users, the maximum connection speeds of 150 Mbps in each location fall far short of 400 Mbps+.

Does it even make a difference if this happens? Almost nobody, though; nowadays, using WireGuard to connect is the norm, and we assume that all users will do so.

For the most part, Surfshark can provide great connections and won’t slow you down too much if you’re using a standard domestic line.

How Much Does Surfshark VPN Cost?

Surfshark’s pricing structure is very normal, offering monthly, annual, and two-year options.

Subscription for the extended plans is made in one installment, but the resulting monthly cost savings might be substantial.

Here are different Surfshark packages:

• 1-month: $12.95
• 1-year: $3.99 per month
• 2-year: $2.21 per month

When you sign up for our two-year plan and take advantage of our promotional offer, your monthly cost will be as little as $2.21.

Although the up-front cost remains the same, the regular monthly price is lowered.

You can get the Surfshark One package for an extra $1.49 per month in addition to any of the Surfshark VPN services.

Surfshark’s anti-virus software, secure search (browse ad and tracking filtering), and breach surveillance are all included in this bundle.

Every plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you plenty of time to evaluate the services and determine which best fits your needs. What’s more, Surfshark subscription is easy to cancel.

A 7-day free trial may be available if you register through a smartphone or macOS, but this is not guaranteed.

Surfshark VPN accepts payment via various payment systems, including major credit and debit cards, e-wallets like PayPal and Google Wallet, mobile payment systems like Apple Wallet and Amazon Pay, and even Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

In Summary, the best VPNs in 2025 are;

Review Verdict

The final verdict of this Surfshark VPN review is positive, and this VPN is highly recommended.

Surfshark VPN continues to be an Editors’ Choice winner because of its high quality in all areas.

Although Surfshark VPN’s monthly subscription isn’t cheap, the service’s extensive privacy features, top-notch mobile apps, and infinite connections make up for the cost.

It offers the most bang for your buck in comparison to its rivals, and it has all the qualities you’d want in a top VPN service, including numerous advanced security features, a solid network and fast speeds, consistent unblocking capabilities, and a firm dedication to customer confidentiality and safety.

For getting a secure connection and protecting your private data, you must give Surfshark a try.